‘Bridgerton has created so much place for colour in entertainment: Ushna Shah

Actor lauded Netflix series for South Asian representation

Actor Ushna Shah recently took to Twitter to comment on the rising trend of brown actors getting cast in lead roles in Hollywood. Commenting on the hit Netflix series Bridgerton, which featured South Asian characters at the forefront, Ushna wrote, “Bridgerton has created so much place for colour in entertainment. God bless Shonda Rhimes. Being seen in important characters and not just token ones is a wonderful thing, finally.”

Bridgerton has created so much place for colour in entertainment. God bless Shonda Rhimes. Being seen in important characters and not just token ones is a wonderful thing, finally.

— Ushna Shah (@ushnashah) May 27, 2022

The first season of Bridgerton had Regé-Jean Page in the lead, whereas the second season of the acclaimed Netflix drama introduced the Sharma sisters to the franchise that includes Charithra Chandran as Edwina Sharma and Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma. Actor Priyanka Chopra has lauded the hit show for representing desi people on mainstream TV. The global icon took to Twitter to share a still from the show and write, “I have to say, it’s so wonderful to see desi representation on mainstream TV. It was such an anomaly when I started. Love the show and the Sharma sisters."

The second season of the series features Bollywood music, chai, jhumkas and haldi ceremonies, offering a treat to its South Asian viewers. While the steamy Netflix romance is definitely one of the most popular productions featuring brown actors, it isn’t the only one. Recent Hollywood offerings such as Ms Marvel and Never Have I Ever star South Asian women and are centred around its culture. In film, actors such as Academy Award winner Riz Ahmed, as well as Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra have been cast in prominent roles as well.